Chiefs, Cronshaw stun South Sub with walk-off win

Chiefs, Cronshaw stun South Sub with walk-off win

(Sugar Grove, IL.) – Waubonsee Community College's baseball team stunned visiting South Suburban College by scoring four times in the bottom of the seventh to take the opener of their twin bill on Thursday afternoon. The Chiefs (9-32) won the thriller 5-4 on a walk-off, two-run double by Jacob Cronshaw, their second straight walk-off victory. The Bulldogs (30-14), a perennial power and the top division one team in the NJCAA's Region 4, then held on to win game two 4-1 and gain a split of the doubleheader.

In the opener Waubonsee trailed 4-1 with three outs to go before staging their comeback. The Chiefs had just three hits through the first six innings against Bulldogs' starter and ace Eric Santaguida, who entered the day with a 6-1 record. But Waubonsee's bats suddenly came to life in the seventh. Andrew Hernandez reached base on an infield single to third and Chase Gabel followed with a two-run blast well over the left field fence. The catcher's first home run of the season suddenly made it a one-run game and sparked the Chiefs' offense. Jacob Decker then laid a perfect drag bunt down the third base line for a hit to put the potential tying run on base.

South Suburban head coach Steve Ruzich went to his closer Colson Smith, who was looking to earn his fourth save of the season. Dylan Conklin, who had delivered a game-winning walk-off single in the Chiefs' previous game on Tuesday, laced a two-strike single over shortstop to put the possible tying run at second and the winning run at first with no outs. With tensions mounting the Bulldogs' Smith proceeded to strikeout the Chiefs' Max Smith looking on a two-ball, two-strike count for the first out. The left-handed hitting Cronshaw then stepped into the box and drilled the third pitch he saw over the head of center fielder Freddy Ragsdale. Decker scored easily with Conklin flying around the bases and sliding in well ahead of the throw home as the Chiefs poured out of the dugout and mobbed Cronshaw in short center field.    

South Suburban had built a 3-0 lead in the top of the second inning off Cronshaw as the right-hander surrendered two hits, walked two and hit two batters. Sam Carroll came on in relief in the top of the fourth and allowed just one run over the final four innings to get his first collegiate career win. Cronshaw, batting in the leadoff spot, finished the game 3 for 4 with two doubles and three runs driven in. A key to Waubonsee's win was keeping the Bulldogs' All-American candidate Athony Martinez in check. The slugging first baseman, who entered the day with a .421 batting average to go along with 12 homers and 62 runs batted in, finished the game 0 for 4.

In game two South Suburban got all the runs it would need in the top of the third when they scored three times courtesy of two hit batters, a double, a walk and a sacrifice fly by Martinez. Waubonsee starter LeBaron Lee took the loss despite allowing just three hits over six innings of work. The 6'4" left-hander, coming off an injury that sidelined him all last season, walked two and struck out three in his longest outing of the season. The Chiefs managed just four hits with Louis Leon's solo home run to right field in the bottom of the sixth accounting for the only Waubonsee run. 

Coach Alex Hales' Chiefs are at home this Saturday, April 26 for Sophomore Day as Illinois Skyway Collegiate Conference leader Elgin Community College comes to Sugar Grove for a conference twin bill starting at noon. Waubonsee caps off the weekend on Sunday afternoon when they square off against Morton College at the Kane County Cougars' Northwestern Medicine Field beginning at 4:00 p.m. Hall of Famer and long-time Chiefs' head coach Dave Randall will be throwing out a ceremonial first pitch. There will plenty of family fun with musical performances by Waubonsee students, food trucks, Alumni photos and a carnival in the south parking lot. Admission and parking are free. You can get more information and RSVP at Waubonsee.edu/community